Hermetically sealed joint



Patented Aug. 31, 1948 HERMETICALLY SEALED JQINT Hugh B. .I ohnsomFalls Church, Va., and Le Roy L. Werner, Washi11gton,-D.` C.

Application October 2.6, 1944, Serial No. 560,518

3 Claims. (Cl. 21V- 65)l (Granted under the act of` March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928;. 370 O. 6.157)

` The invention described herein, if patented may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

Generically, the present invention relates to a sealing device for hermetically sealing chambers, and more particularly to a portable and readily dismountable gas tight chamber to be used in connection with military activities. While the ensuing description is directed primarily to a chamber for the fumigation of military equipage, it is of course to be understood that it is of a more comprehensive scope.

We are well aware that the vbroad concept of" providing a gas tight chamber for these pur-v poses is not novel. The prior devices employed to accomplishv the desired results are not well adapted for use with highly mobile troops in the field. The fumigating chambers now in vogue are used principally at xed installations and, as a consequence, are of a more or less permanent nature, thus rendering them inadequate for present military purposes.` These devices of necessity must be rather bulky in construction and in addition, due to the somewhat complex structural features, require skilled personnel in their assembly and disassembly.

An important object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages now inherent in the art.

A' further object is to provide a gas tight chambei` for fumigating purposes wherein all juncture points are sealed when the chamber is in its assembled position. I

Yet, another object of this position is to provide a mobile gas tight chamber which may be easily and readily assembled or disassembled.

A further object is to provide a gas tight joint which is simple in construction and operation and which employs a minimum of strategic materials in its fabrication.

An additional object is to provide a chamber with means to join two or more structural elements in a hermetically sealed relationship.

The above and other advantageous objects which will hereinafter become more fully apparent are accomplished by the construction and arrangement of the various parts to be described and shown in the attached drawing in which similar reference characters designate the same or similar parts: j

Figure 1 is a composite view in perspective of the exterior, showing the method of joining the front and one side panel to the base panel.

' Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the interior of; the chamber showing the method of joining the front and one side panel to the base panel.-

Figure 3 is a fragmental transverse sectional view'taken through the chamber showing the manner in which any vertical panel is attached to the base panel. i

. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4` oftFigure 3 looking in the direction of thearrows. r `Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of another form of stiiener for the locking bolt.

Referring to the drawings and more especially Figure l, there is shown a base or floor panel I made of light weight, gas proof material such as plywood.` Front panel2 and side panel 3 made of the same material as the base I` are adapted to form the walls of the chamber. For the purpo'se of simplicity, we have merely shown three of the panel elements, it being understood that the other side panel and the rear panel are made and assembled in the same way as the panels l2 and 3A and that the roof panel is similar to the base panel I.

An upstanding angle iron rib 5 is secured to the upperiace of the iloor panel I by means of screws or the like 4. `It will be noted in Figure 3 that the vertical portion of the angle is longitudinally offset, as indicated at 6, and terminates in a second vertical portion 1, the function of which'will later be more fully set forth; A series of spaced bolt assemblies designated generally 8 are provided at predetermined intervals along the angle iron 5 in spaced relation from offset portion 6. These boltassemblies serve as a part of the locking means whereby the panel members are secured `to the base panel I. A similarupstanding 'and longitudinally "offset angle iron rib 5a is positioned along the vertical edge of the side panel where it is joined to the iront panel to provide an effective seal along this point of juncture.` As`perhapsbest illustrated in Figure 3, each bolt assembly comprises a head 9, shank I0, cone nut II,v and a collar I2, which latter ele ment prevents the nut from being removed from" In Figure 5, there is illustrated a modified type i of stiffener, 'and it will be noted that the web I3' is'welded along its upper edge to the shank I0, as shown at I4 and along the lower edge to the angle 5'as at I5.

The horizontal edges of the side panel are provided with slots I6 having an enlarged aperture I'I at the upper end thereof. In view of the fact that the slot I cooperates with the bolt assembly 8 to lock or secure the panels to the base panel, there is a slot for each bolt assembly. With reference to Figure 3, attention is invited to the fact that the enlarged aperture I1 of the slot is formed with tapered walls I8 having the same degree ofl taper as the cone nut II. This arrangement is efcacious in that it permits a verysnug tbetween the panel and the angle 5 when the nutv II is drawn up on the bolt. The horizontal fandfthe:

tion, *coextensive with the offset portionv 6 of" rib 5i is yformed in the interior of" the side panel element, adjacent both the upper and lower edge thereof. A rubber gasket 2D' or similar resilient packing material is imbedded in thegroove and the-outer exposed surface is substantially flush with the inner surface of the panel element. As Will later become more fully apparent, the gasket Ztll in conjunction with the vertical portion 1 of the angle iron. 5 will effect a gas tight seal between-the panel and the` base. A similarl groove and gasket combination ISa and: a, :coextensive with the oif'set portion of rib 5a; is provided on the interior ofY the front panel, extending alongi the vertical and horizontalfedges, to affordL a simila!! seal.

Aiixed to theouter face of the'side panel, adjacent to the groove I9`is a. metal: stiifening strip ZI' of angle shape. This stripy is formed' withv a plurality of slots 22 having the same dimensions as the slots I6 in the panel element. This member is desirable in that it acts as a Washer surface against which the cone nut bears; preventing enlargement of the wood slot, and acting: also as astrengthening element for. the panel, imparting` rigidity to the chamber along its juncture. points. A 'similar stiffening strip 2Ia is bolted,

toithe" horizontal and vertical edgesy of the frontpanel, adjacent to they gasket 20a, the-function beingthe same vas the stiffening' strip 2|, previously described.

To set up the apparatus, the front panel 2` is droppedinto rplace on the base panel I so that recess IQi and resilient gasket 20- face. thel oiTset portion'liA on rib 5 and the slots I6a will register with the-bolt assemblies 8. The shock imparted to each bolt assembly will be absorbed. by the web II 3 'and as a result, bending or shearing of the` bolt is minimized materially.v The'nut II ist-hen drawn up on each bolt and the vertical portion 'I of the-angle 5v is moved into vsnug engagement' with. the gasket 20a to eiectuatea gas tight sealbetween the panel and the base panelv I. The sidef panel 3 Iis then moved into engagement with: the base I in such a way that recess ISaand resilientgasket ZIla face the offset portion on rib 5a and' the slots I6 and the bolts 8' intert. Thel panel'is dropped at an angle with respect toI the front panel to enable. the bolt assemblies IiA along.

The remaining side panels and roof :are assembledv in substantially the same manner. Obviously, by reversing the above procedure, the chamber may be disassembled.

By virtue of the above description, it will be appreciated that we have devised a gas tight chamber. which iswell adapted for fumigation purposes in the field. Thezunit may be easily and readily assembled in a minimum of time and without the employment of highly skilled personnel. Moreover, there are relatively few essential workingfparts and in case of damage or loss, the parts can be easily replaced. In addition, eiective gas tight joints are provided which reduce materially the danger of toxic effeicts of the fumigants used.

Itv will be fully understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings cover only the general and preferred embodiment of the-invention"` and that various changes in construction, proportion, and arrangement of the elements may be made by those skilled in the art, withouty departing from the spirit; and scope. of theinvention as setl forth in the appended claims;l

Having thus described our invention', whatmwe,` claim asnewand useful is:

1. A hermetically sealed joint comprising. a base membenan upstanding ribmounted on saidv base member, said rib having a longitudinally ex-v tending offset portion, a side member mounted;

on said' base adjacentsaid'rib andprovided wlthl a longitudinally extending recess coextensive with and'A facing said oiset portion; a. resilient member Within said recess, and meansnspaced: from said resilient member and extending? transversely through said rib and-.siderimembenfor clamping saidoifset portion in. engagement*with@ said resilient member;

2. A hermeticallyn sealed'chamber'comprising,

a base member and a pluralityofpanel'membersv mounted on. said basememben'ioneof said panel" members being provided with an upstandingfrrio;

said ribhaving a. longitudinally extending offsetportion,` and another ofsaid panel .membersbeing' providedfwith af longitudinally extending re-A cess: coextensive with and' 'facingf said' olsetA portion; avv resilient memberwithin said-recess;y andvr means spaced from said resilient mem-ber andi: extending transversely through: said vrib:` and said.;

second" panel f memberA for clamping -1- said offset portion Vin engagement with said 'resilient member.

3. A hermetically sealed.- chamber'r comprising a. base member, a horizontal-upstandingrib* mounted on said base member, said ribv having-.ar

longitudinally extending offset portion, a plurality of panel members mO-untedcnfsaid base adjacent said rib, eachof said pan-el members:

being provided adjacent one :offits horizontal edges with alongitudinally extendinghorizontal recess coextensivewith and facing said offset portion, a resilient memberwithin said-recess,and= means spaced from said resilient memberand extending transversely' through' said rib: and side member rfor clamping said ofset'portion-in enf-o gagement withI said resilient member;y one offsaid- 1' panel members ybeing further provided with Va vertical longitudinally extending recess adjacent lone of 4its verticaledges and-another of said panelU members rbeing provided with a vertical upstandwY ing` rib adjacent one of its vertical' edges; said Vertical rib having a longitudinally extending off set portion coextensive with and facing said ver-l tical recess, a'vertical resilient member within said verticalfrecess, and means spacedfrom said.' vertical resilient :member and extending y transer versely through said vertical rib and-througflrsaid vertically recessed panel member for clamping Number y Name Date said vertical olset portion in engagement with 1,253,764 Zahner Jan. 15, 1918 said vertical resilient member. 1,986,057 Hackworth Jan. 1, 1935 HUGH B. JOHNSON. 2,177,233 Vincent Oct. 24, 1939 LE ROY L. WERNER. 5 2,201,482 Driggs, Jr. May 21, 1940 2,219,409 Boyd et al Oct. 29, 1940 REFERENCES CITED 2,376,593 Heuen Mey 22, 1945 The following references are of record in the FOREIGN PATENTS me of thls patent' 10 Number Country Date UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,251 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1940 Number Name Date 507,942 Great Britain June 23, 1939 234,186 Hendrick NOV. 9, 188() Certcate of Correction Patent No.v2,448,031. August 31, 1948. HUGH B. JOHNSON ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specieetion of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 1, lino 35, for the Word position read invention; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this fleetion therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Signed and sealed this 16th day of November, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant ommfissioner of Patents. 

